It is true that this season’s Bachelor, the really silly romantic reality show that prompts people to fall in love and get engaged only to most likely end up on ABC’s Bachelor Pad anyway, was really mean. In fact, ABC advertises it as the most controversial season ever, but did they go too far?
It will not be until Monday that the Bachelor announces his choice, but like many seasons, there is one troubled girl that the house dislikes. In the precursor to the season finale, everyone speaks their minds, and on this season’s Tell All episode the girls ganged up on a competitor who is still in the running.
Courtney is the beautiful model who Ben is obviously enthralled with. She is a season favorite along with some others Ben did not choose. The relationship with Courtney seems to have blossomed. At the beginning, ABC presented her as if she was only in it to win it–a claim made by the housemates–but as time went on, it did seem as if she was genuinely interested in Ben for who he was. The pair certainly have a connection and I hope Ben picks her.
Her sin is not her aggressive moves toward Ben–though some criticize her for that and her biting remarks–but for the way she treated her competitors. The word competitor is used purposefully. While the other girls claim they made friends, they really are competing for the same guy. Would you want to be friends with your rivals? Really?
Courtney does not seem sure of herself. She is defensive, as the girls claim, but does that give them the right to attack her? In part, it is the fault of ABC because the show clearly is made to snag an audience by portraying one contestant to look like a complete bitch. They do this every season. Bachelor and its spin offs focus on train wrecks, and people can’t stop watching. It is the sort of Jerry Springer mentality that gets ratings, but what does that say about people? Might it suggest that people are judgmental, that they see things in black and white, or that they are inflexible? Perhaps. Or maybe we watch despite the sensationalism. Maybe we watch because deep down we believe in love.
No matter the mentality of the American public, the truth is that while these episodes play out on television, these are real people with real lives. Yeah, maybe Courtney needs to work on herself, but many of us are not great with people, say things we don’t mean, and have insecurities too. Everyone has a different back story. No one knows what Courtney has been through in her life to apparently be so distrustful of people. And no one in TV land really knows her anyway. It is TV. To judge Courtney as someone who does not feel, and to deny that she is sincere, suggests that human beings are either inherently good or inherently evil. Maybe such portrayals make for good television, but it is not what human beings are about. We all have insecurities and strengths.
So I say, good luck Courtney, whoever you are, and whether or not you are now engaged to Ben. You went for love, and I hope you did win. Trust yourself. You are a good human being. And you apologized. That is all you can do. Whether or not others accept that is up to them. Don’t forget, while you may have done things you regret–hasn’t everybody–you did not deserve that prime time televised attack. Be strong and see this Bachelor faux pas as just a stepping stone to a great life….with or without Ben Flajnik. You deserve it!
